Pocketbook for foreign currency



Aug. 20, 1957 g I. u. SUTTON POCKETBOOK FOR FOREIGN CURRENCY Filed June 9-, 1955 INVENTOR IONE ULRICH SUTTON ATTORNEYS United States PatentQ" rocnnrnoox FOR FOREIGN CURRENCY Ioue Ulrich Sutton, New York, N. Y. Application June 9, 1955, SerialNo. 514,169

8 Claims. c1. 150-45 1 The present invention relates to a'purse for coins and bills, more particularly to a purse especially adapted for travel abroad wherein the money of each foreign country is separated in one of a' plurality of containers.

Travel abroad is always complicated by the fact/that the traveller may, in the course of his itinerary, pass through several different foreign countries. Each of these countries is a unity in itself and has its own language, customs, and monetarysystem. The traveller, more particularly the tourist, is constantly beset by many difficulties arising because of the various forms of currency employed in the foreign countries. In addition, the basic unit of the monetary system of each foreign country has a different value in relation to the UnitedStates dollar. Therefore, the traveller is constantly computing the value of foreign currency in terms of United States dollars when making purchases in these countries.

Not only must the traveller carry currency of the foreign countries, but he must also have on his person a passport and other forms of identification such as international drivers license, letters of credit papers, extra travellers checks and the like. All of this information should be conveniently assembled to permit the traveller to have ready access to any desired bit of information when necessary. 1

In order to facilitate the handling of the currency of the various foreign countries, ingenious travellers have devised many systems. The present invention was devised as a result of applicants experience when travelling abroad.

The present invention provides a convenient device for carrying foreign currency. In addition the purse has means which permits ready access to the foreign currency, and also a quick determination of the relative values of the currency in terms of United States dollars.

The present invention essentially comprises a zippered leather case which is somewhat larger than a conventional wallet. This leather case has a plurality of envelopelike transparent containers pivotally mounted therein. The containers are pivoted at a corner thereof to permit a view of all the containers when the leather case is open. Each one of the transparent containers has closing means which occupies a minimum of space when the containers are assembled together and the leather case closed. Various embodiments of fastening means for marking the various containers are also disclosed. The entire arrangement provides a coin purse which is adapted for foreign travel due to the ready visibility and accessibility of the foreign currency contained in the envelope-like containers.v The leather case may contain other pockets to accommodate various papers which the traveler may desire vto carry with him.

It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to provide a purse to separately contain the currency of a number of foreign countries.

Is is another objectof this invention to provide a purse having a number of currency containers pivotally mounted therein. e

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a purse containing a number of currency containers mounted within a case to permit the rapid determination of and accessibility to the money in each container.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel and improved structure for pivotally mounting a plurality of currency containers in a purse.

It is .still another object of this invention to provide an improved purse having a zippered case and a plurality of currency containers having readily operable closure means which occupy a minimum of space.

It is still an additional object of this invention to provide a purse for foreign currency which has simplified and eflicient means for, determining the relative value of currency of the various countries. I

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent upon reference to the accompanying description when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an over-all perspective view of the coin purse disclosed as this invention and in closed position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the coin purse illusthis invention with the case being in flat position and the containers arranged so that eachcontainer may be individually examined;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of one of containers;

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the snap ring for securing the containers in the case;

Figure 6 is a perspective 'view showing the details of the closure structure on each container;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the lines 7-7 of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a sectional View taken along the lines 8-8 of Figure 6; 1

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a modification of structure employed to secure containers within the case; and

Figure 10 is another modification of structure employed to mount the containers within the case.

Returning now to the drawings, more particularly to Figure 1, wherein like reference symbols indicate the same parts throughout the various views, 10 indicates generally the currency purse disclosed as this invention. The purse 10 comprises a leather case 11, having two the currency 14. The fold 14 is the junction of corresponding edges of the faces 12 and 13 and there is a zipper 15 which connects the remaining corresponding edges of the faces 12 and 13. The case is similar to the construction of a leather envelope which is closed by a zipper. The case of this invention, however, is smaller in size, the size being somewhat larger than a conventional passport.

While the case is described as being of leather, other flexible materials, such as plastics or the like, may be employed in the construction of the case.

Proceeding to Figure 2 which shows the case of Figure l in open position, there is a pocket 16 on the inner surface of the face 12. The pocket 16 is especially adapted to accommodate a passport.

The inner surface of the other face 13 is covered by a piece of leather 17 which forms a vertically opening pocket 18 on the face 13. In addition, there are a plurality of horizontal overlapping pockets 19 mounted various sizes of papers and other identification material.

Within the case adjacent one end of the fold 14 there -is' mounted a leather loop 20. A snap ring 21 com- Patented Aug. 20, 1957:

prises a pair of semi-circular halves 22 and 23 which are pivoted at 24 and adapted to be connected together at their other ends by a latch, indicated at 25, which comprises a detent or catch upon each of the ring halves.

There are a plurality of flat envelope-like containers 26 through 29 secured to the snap ring 21. Eachof the containers comprises an upper face 30 and a lower face 31 made of a transparent or frosted plastic material. The two faces are positioned upon each other and welded along three of the edges thereof with the ends of the welded edges adjacent the unwelded edges being wider than the remaining welded portions. There is an apertiire 32 in the corresponding corners of each of the containers. The aperture 32 is reinforced by a metal reinforcing ring 33/ When the case is closed, the containers are normally disposed within the case so that the inner edge of the container, as indicated at 34, is aligned with the fold 14. The outer edge of the container, as indicated at 35, is adjacent the zippered end of the casing opposite the fold 14.

Along the outer edge of the upper face of each of the containers is a plastic strip 36 which has a pair of parallel ridges 37 on the lower surface thereof. A cross-section of the parallel ridges will reveal that each ridge has a cross-section which is substantially bulbular in shape.

There is a second plastic strip 38 attached to the outer edge of the lower face of each of the containers. The plastic strip 38 is overlapped by the plastic strip 36. This relationship may be more clearly seen in Figure 8. The ends of the plastic strips 36 and 38 are welded to the wider welded portions adjacent the open edge of the container.

The plastic strip, 38 also has on the upper surface thereof a pair of parallel ridges 39 which are similarly bulbular in cross-section. The parallel ridges on each of the plastic strips are adapted to cooperate with each other in the manner illustrated in Figure 8. The bulbular cross-sections ofthe parallel strips result in an interlocking action between the two sets of plastic ridges. A metal slider 40 will urge the ridges into interlocking relationship when moved in one direction along the plastic strips; Movement of the slider in the opposite direction will disengage the parallel ridges from their interlocking rela;

tionship.

The plastic strips on each of the containers are of different colors. This is to assist the traveler to readily distinguish between the containers.

A card 41 is also placed in each of the containers. This card has information thereon pertaining to the relative values of the currency within that container Other facts pertinent to the monetary system of that country may also be printed upon the card.

The parallel plastic strips together with the cards serve,

as indicia which will greatly aid the traveler in locating the particular container desired and also in determining the value of the currency within that containerv In Figure 9 there is illustrated a modification; of the manner of securing the containers within the case. This modification comprises a hollow metallic post 42 which is mounted in an upright position within the case at substantially the same position designated by the snap ring illustrated in Figure 5.

The hollow post 42 has an axial bore 43 in the upper end thereof and is internally threaded. A threaded bolt 44 is received within the post 42. The head of the bolt may be knurled, as indicated at 45, to assist in. removing and inserting the bolt.

The'containers are similarly secured to the post 42 by inserting the post through the apertures 32 in the corners of each of the containers. 4

Proceeding to Figure 10, there is illustrated asecond. modification of structure for securing the containers with-. in the case. This modification similarly comprises a post 46 which is mounted in an upright position in the same dlocation in the case as indicated by the snap ring of Figure 5'. The post 46' has the upper end thereof bifurcated to form the bifurcations 47 and 48. There is a slot 49 between said bifurcations within which is mounted a retaining member 50 pivoted at the point 51. It is preferable that suitable snaps be positioned on the bifurcations and the retaining member 50 in order to maintain the retaining member in a horizontalposition so as to prevent the containers from becoming detached from the post.

With the above description of the purse of this invention in mind, it is readily apparent that the outstanding feature of this invention is the mounting of flat envelopelike containers within the case in such a manner that the contents of the containers are readily visible when the containers are spread out in the manner illustrated in Figure 3. In the conventional wallet or billfold, containers are secured along the fold of the case. and fitted on the fold in a manner similar to that of pages in a book. However, by mounting flat containers at the corners thereof and by positioning a closure for each container on the outer edges thereof, applicant has devised a purse which permits ready access to any of the conta .ne

While the purse has been described as having four containers therein, a greater number of containers may bev mounted within the case. In addition, information cards for additional countries may be carried in horizonti l pockets 19, as indicated at 52 in Figure 2. Consequently, as the traveler proceeds to different groups of countries he merely designates one of the containers to receiveall the currency of that country. To assist at arriving at the proper determination of the values of the currency of that country in terms of United States dollars he also places a card containing information about the monetary system within that container. Regardless of the. number of countries which the traveler may visit, it is a very simple matter to adapt the purse for travel in those countries. In addition, the currency of all the countries which he intends to visit is separate, and is readily accessible to the traveler.

Since this case may be manufactured of different materials, such as leather and plastics, the advantages of this. coinpur-se will be available to all persons because of the wide range of prices, at which this convenient purse may be sold,

Thus it can be seen that the present invention provides a purse particularly adaptable for travel in foreign countries. A traveler using this purse will find that the foreign currency of the. various countries is separate and is readily available, In addition, the pivotal mounting of each of the. containers within the case permits a rapid examination of the contents of each of the containers. By providing a purse wherein all the necessary papers and, currency required for international travel may be conveniently carried, this purse will eliminate many of the difficulties encountered by foreign travelers.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to diiferent usages and conditions and, accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a purse, a case havinga fold intermediate two edges thereof, a plurality'of flat containers within said case normally stacked upon each other, means on said fold adjacent an end thereof for securing said conminers, and means in a corner of each container for pivotally mounting said containers to said;sec ur;ing means.

2 In a purse, a case having a fold intermediate two edges thereof, a plurality of flat containers each pivotally mounted at a corner thereof'to one end of saidficase fold, said containerseach having an inner edge normally adjacent the fold of the case and an opposing outer edge, and closure means on the outer edge of each container.

3. In a purse, a case having a fold intermediate two edges thereof, a ring fastened Within said case on said fold adjacent one end thereof, a plurality of fiat transparent containers within said case and each having an inner edge normally disposed along said fold, each container having a hole in a corner thereof adjacent the inner edge to receive said ring to permit pivotal movement of said containers when said case is open to a flat position to permit the contents of the flat containers to be viewed concurrently.

4. In a purse, a case having a fold along one edge thereof, an upstanding post within said case upon said fold adjacent one end thereof, a plurality of flat containers within said case and each having an inner edge normally disposed along said fold, each container having a hole in a corner thereof adjacent the inner edge to receive said post to permit pivotal movement of said container when said case is open, and detachable means on said post to retain said container secured thereto but permitting pivotal movement about said post.

5. In a purse as claimed in claim 4, with said retaining means comprising a bolt threadedly received within said post.

6. In a purse as claimed in claim 4, with said retaining means comprising a post having its upper end bifurcated, and means pivotally mounted between said bifurcations for maintaining the containers secured to said post.

7. In a purse, a plurality of flat containers attached in a purse, a case having a fold intermediate two edges thereof, a plurality of flat containers each pivotally mounted at a corner thereof to one end of the fold in said case, said containers each having an inner edge normally adjacent the fold of the case and an opposing outer edge, said containers having varying widths whereby the outer edges thereof will be disposed in staggered relationship to facilitate access to the desired container.

8. A purse particularly adapted for foreign travel and comprising a substantially fiat case, said case having a fold intermediate two edges thereof, means for closing the other edges of said case, a plurality of flat transparent containers to permit ready identification of the contents thereof disposed within said case, said containers each having an inner edge normally adjacent said fold and an opposing outer edge, means within said case on said fold adjacent one end thereof for securing said containers, means on'a corner of each container for pivotally mounting said containers to said securing means whereby all of said containers may be pivoted into a flat arrangement to be viewed concurrently, and closure means on the outer edge of each of said containers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,646,827 Mayer Oct. 25, 1927 2,207,135 Trollen July 9, 1940 2,374,115 Macdonald Apr. 17, 1945 2,439,731 Hawes Apr. 13, 1948 2,451,122 Sherwood Oct. 12, 1948 2,467,662 Freiberg Apr. 19, 1949 2,477,840 Vasilas Aug. 2, 1949 2,523,724 Satz Sept. 26, 1950 2,566,452 Kersten Sept. 4, 1951 2,604,133 Knee July 22, 1952 2,666,466 Sharat Jan. 19, 1954 2,681,677 Poeltl June 22, 1954 2,684,097 Treul July 20, 1954 2,732,875 Martin Jan. 31, 1956 

